Article

Water funding

The federal government announced its plan to invest $330.8 million over two years to sustain progress made to build and renovate First Nations water and wastewater infrastructure on reserves.

The federal government announced its plan to invest $330.8 million over two years to sustain progress made to build and renovate First Nations water and wastewater infrastructure on reserves.

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) will prioritize capital investments to target high and medium risk systems, in more than 50 First Nation communities, including Canoe Lake, Sask.; Tallcree First Nation, Alta; and Nazko First Nation, B.C.

Year one of this funding will be allocated by AANDC in 2012-2013 in three areas of planned expenditures: $47.7 million for operations and maintenance, $32.1 million for training for First Nations and $47.3 million for capital investments.

Health Canada will support First Nations with an investment of $27.4 million each year to build capacity, enhance drinking water quality monitoring, maintain a national wastewater program, increase public awareness and review project proposals from a public health perspective. Chiefs and councils will continue to be responsible for public health measures, and communicating the information to residents and addressing drinking water quality problems.